Anna Clark
I focus on stories rooted in Michigan and the Midwest that have national resonance.
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What I Cover
I’m interested in accountability stories with a connection to Michigan and the Midwest, especially if they involve water, infrastructure and public policy.
My Background
I came to ProPublica after many years as a freelance journalist, writing for national and local publications. My longtime interest in how cities are made and unmade carries into my ProPublica stories, but my reporting is expansive. I’ve written about economic incentives, unmet political promises, policies affecting wrongfully convicted people, investigation delays, lab testing loopholes, questionable practices at a nonprofit college and more.
My book, “The Poisoned City: Flint’s Water and the American Urban Tragedy,” won the Hillman Prize for Book Journalism and the Rachel Carson environmental book award. It was also a finalist for the Helen Bernstein Book Award and longlisted for the Andrew Carnegie Medal. I edited “A Detroit Anthology” and wrote a book on Michigan’s literary history.
I’ve been a Fulbright fellow in Kenya and a Knight-Wallace fellow at the University of Michigan. I teach in Alma College’s MFA program in creative writing and serve on the board of the Detroit chapter of the Society for Professional Journalists.
I grew up in southwest Michigan and have lived in Detroit for nearly 20 years. More of my background is at www.annaclark.net.
A Sweeping Report on a Michigan School Shooting Finds Multiple Failures and a Troubled Aftermath
Parents, already shaken by the fatal incident at Oxford High School, lost confidence in the school district when it hesitated to find and acknowledge accountability for the 2021 shooting.
Federal Scrutiny, Plunging Revenue Plague a Private College’s Attempt at a Turnaround
Baker College once was Michigan’s largest private nonprofit school, built on questionable promises of employment and cost. But a new school year brings a fresh host of financial and reputational problems.
Michigan Still Allows Emergency Takeovers of Local Governments. Is It Finally Time to Reconsider This Drastic Measure?
Under emergency management, Flint faced problems that turned catastrophic while Detroit charted a new course. That mixed record and stark racial disparities have prompted calls for change.
Baker College Faces Federal Investigation Over “Recruitment and Marketing Practices”
ProPublica and the Detroit Free Press found that Baker College spent more on marketing than it did on financial aid. Now, the school faces an inquiry by the U.S. Department of Education.
Scores of Critical Lab Tests Fall Into a Regulatory Void. The FDA Is Trying to Close It.
Lab-developed tests like prenatal screenings have become increasingly popular, all while escaping the bulk of federal scrutiny over marketing and accuracy. Now, the FDA is beginning the process of imposing regulations on these kinds of tests.
Could a Michigan School Shooting Have Been Prevented? Families Still Waiting for a Full Accounting of What Happened.
Eighteen months after the deadly shooting at Oxford High School, parents want answers from the district. The mistrust sowed in the community by the delays reflects failures across the country to methodically investigate these tragedies.
Life-Giving but Lethal: The Culprit Behind Dead Zones and the Threat to Our Water Supply
In his new book, “The Devil’s Element,” award-winning journalist Dan Egan explores the impact of phosphorus on our water and our world.
The Tests Are Vital. But Congress Decided That Regulation Is Not.
Money and lobbying help shield lab-developed tests, including prenatal screenings, from heightened federal scrutiny.
America’s Adult Education System Is Broken. Here’s How Experts Say We Can Fix It.
Experts say that more money is critical to improving the national system. Many states have developed creative solutions in spite of their limited funding.
Pregnant? Here’s What You Need to Know About NIPTs
The noninvasive prenatal testing industry confuses patients and even some doctors. So we’ve created this guide to the tests, the accuracy of results, cost and more.